Report: Egypt opens criminal investigation against Morsi

Jul. 13, 2013
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A supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi poses with a paper mask of Morsi as he and others face Egyptian military soldiers near the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday. / Nasser Shiyoukhi, AP

by Sarah Lynch, Special for USA TODAY

by Sarah Lynch, Special for USA TODAY

CAIRO - Egypt announced a criminal investigation Saturday against the nation's first democratically elected leader, in a move that could lead to charges, Reuters reported.

Prosecutors - who have received complaints against ousted leader Mohammed Morsi and eight other Islamist figures, among others - are examining complaints of inciting violence, destroying the economy and spying, Reuters said, citing a statement from the public prosecutor's office.

The announcement came amid ongoing protests by Morsi's supporters, who are furious that the military overthrew him.

On Saturday, four members of the now-dissolved upper house of Parliament gathered inside Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo's Nasr City, where a sit-in has continued for more than a week. The former leaders said the decree that dissolved Parliament's upper house is null and void since the legislative body was elected in a democratic vote, according to the Muslim Brotherhood's website.

"We will be taking legal steps to talk to world parliaments, and will take legal and international action to prevent violations of the rule of law," former member of Parliament Amir Bassam said, according to the Brotherhood's website.

More protests by Morsi's backers are expected next week, as a top leader of the Brotherhood's political wing announced a plan for mass rallies across the country on Monday and called for larger crowds to participate in peaceful demonstrations.

Morsi supporters have continued to rally over the past 10 days against his overthrow, which took place on July 3 - about one year after Morsi was voted in as the nation's first democratically elected leader.

On Monday, a pro-Morsi demonstration turned deadly when more than 50 people were killed after security forces opened fire on protesters outside a facility of the Republic Guard. The Muslim Brotherhood and the military projected differing narratives about who started the violence.

Morsi supporters say the military is destroying democracy and remain furious that their votes were washed away when General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ushered in a transition plan that suspended the country's constitution, dissolved the legislature and forced Morsi out to make way for new parliamentary and presidential elections.

The army's decision was backed by millions of protesters who took the streets to demand Morsi resign. Since then, interim President Adly Mansour was sworn in and Hezam El-Beblawi was named prime minister. Mohamed ElBaradei was named vice-president and on Friday, Ziad Bahaa El-Din accepted the position of deputy prime minister, local news media reported.

As a new cabinet is formed, Morsi supporters say they feel angry, sidelined and still hold that Morsi maintains legitimacy to govern the country.

"We elected him and supported (the idea of) a four-year term," said Magdy Mohammad Saber, who has taken part in on an ongoing sit-in in Cairo's Nasr City. "We don't agree with the idea of upcoming elections."

"We would like to set our president free because he is now in isolation," he added.

Morsi, who comes from the Muslim Brotherhood, continues to be detained in what the military has called a "safe place."

On Friday, the German Foreign Ministry called for an "end to all restrictive measures considering Morsi," the Associated Press reported. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States agrees with Germany, but she did not elaborate.

Pro and anti-Morsi political camps remain severely divided, and the Brotherhood appears set to reject any invitations for members of its political wing to join an interim cabinet.

Since July 3, authorities have arrested a number of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members and have shut down several Islamist television channels, raising concerns over human rights and the direction the country is heading.

"Both General al-Sisi and interim President Adly Mansour promised that the political transition process would be inclusive," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. "But these violations of basic political rights will mean the Muslim Brotherhood and others will be shut out of political life."